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Chilean wind developer Eolica Tablaruca obtained a $610,000 grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to fund the prefeasibility, environmental and transmission studies for a 260-megawatt wind facility. Tablaruca expects the approval of the $500-million wind project within 18 months, said Mauricio Zeman, the firm's CEO. The project's initial 100 MW phase is scheduled for completion in 2015 and would cost $200 million, Zeman added.

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During a public meeting in Three Mile Bay, N.Y., BP Wind Energy North America confirmed that it will proceed with its proposed Cape Vincent Wind Farm project despite BP's intention to divest its renewable-energy division. "We'll continue to still invest in the project. We'll continue to still be committed to the project," said Richard Chandler, director of business development for BP Wind Energy North America.

The need for more accurate computer modeling to predict wind power output is becoming more apparent, as falling wind turbine costs make it possible for developers to draw up plans for wind projects with up to 1,000 turbines or more, industry experts said. Improved computer modeling for large wind farms would further bring down costs, experts said. "The more accurate the models and the more certain a developer can be, the lower the cost of financing," said Michael Drunsic, a senior consultant at DNV KEMA, which assists companies project output from wind projects.

The danger posed by hurricanes in North Carolina waters is not serious enough to keep developers from drawing up plans for offshore wind farms in the area, said Brian O'Hara, president of the North Carolina Offshore Wind Coalition, during a panel discussion at a conference in Raleigh, N.C. Planning for massive storms requires "a combination of engineering from manufacturers who are aware of the issue, and risk mitigation from insurance providers," O'Hara said.

The Bonneville Power Administration issued a proposed rule that would allow wind farm operators to receive compensation for lost revenue when they are forced to shut down during times of oversupply. Under the proposal, utilities that use BPA transmission lines would share in the cost of compensating the affected wind energy companies, said BPA spokesman Doug Johnson.

Wind energy production levels in California hit way past the previous record of 3,944 megawatts, surging to 4,196 MW on April 7, according to the California ISO. "With these impressive wind production levels, California is well positioned to meet the 33% by 2020 green power goal," said Steve Berberich, the firm's president and CEO.